Barristers’ profits continue to drop – now down 12% in two years

Views from the flipside

Barristers’ incomes have fallen by 12% in the last two years, putting their ability to meet the critical July 31st tax deadline under increased pressure.

Data provided by HMRC shows that the average income of barristers (after costs) fell to £108,000 in the latest tax year, down from 4% from the £113,000 in the previous year and down from £123,000 the year before.

As barristers are self-employed, they must pay their tax in two large semi-annual payments. The July tax bill is a “payment on account” normally equal to half of their previous year’s tax bill.

Peter Alderson, LDF Managing Director says: “Many barristers face a cash-crunch as the next tax deadline approaches. It will be difficult for many to meet last year’s level of tax on this year’s dwindling profits.”

Deep cuts to legal aid have hit barristers hard, with fewer people now able to seek professional representation as it makes them financially unable to take their case to court.

Increased competition for work amongst barristers has also led to a sudden decrease in their workload over the last few years. New entrants to the profession shot up by 19% in just two years, increasing from 11,000 in 2009/10 to 13,000 in 2011/12.

In 2010, fixed fees for certain types of cases were introduced, leading to a decline in barristers taking on more complex legally aided work in areas like immigration and asylum. Subsequent bigger cuts, which came into effect on April 1, 2013, mean that some types of case are no longer eligible for public funds at all - including divorce, child contact, welfare benefits, employment, clinical negligence, and housing law except in very limited circumstances.

Peter Alderson says: “As well as the cuts to legal aid meaning there is less work available for barristers, the Legal Aid Board is notoriously slow to pay them for their work, a big problem for barristers relying on quick payment to cover their bills.”

Becoming a barrister remains a popular career choice for young people – balancing potential high earnings with a challenging workload. Hence many aspiring young people have opted to enter the profession, increasing the competition for the same level of work.

Peter Alderson says: “Late paying clients are also proving a real problem for barristers, which means a barrister’s cash flow can hit extreme peaks and troughs throughout the year – if a tax bill hits during a trough, many barristers could find their backs against a wall.”

In order to avoid hefty late payment fines from HMRC, an increasing number of barristers are now planning ahead, by turning to expert finance providers that are able to provide specialist loan facilities that spread the cost of a tax bill over time.

“It’s clear that many barristers are in need of extra funding if they are to cover tax payments on time. To avoid substantial fines from HMRC, barristers should ensure they have finance in place to cover tax bills - and it’s not too late to do so for those worrying about meeting the deadline.”

LDF’s Professions Tax Facility, allows barristers to regain control over their cash flow by spreading the cost of tax payment over time. Simple and efficient, the facility provides a rolling funding stream for both current and future tax liabilities, allowing barristers to quickly re-gain clarity and peace of mind over their financial position.

Views from the flipside

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